Funding for Families
6 ways to help finance your family’s education.
By Warren Duffie

As an undergraduate student at Austin Peay State University, Allegra Hudspeth knew she wanted to work with children but wasn’t sure she wanted to be a teacher. So she decided to pursue a degree in child psychology.

Upon graduating in 2005, Hudspeth had difficulties finding work in the field of psychology. She labored as an accountant for a prominent hotel chain for a few years, but was miserable. After much discussion with family and friends, Hudspeth realized she needed to pursue her passion for helping kids. She enrolled in the teaching program at Old Dominion University in February.

But how to pay for classes? Hudspeth is married to an Army Soldier. As a dependent, she’s eligible to use educational benefits through the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) program.

“I received a $6,000 grant, which covered my first semester,” said Hudspeth, who is earning a master’s in elementary education. “MyCAA has been a great help and is allowing me to pursue my dream of being a teacher.”

Opening Educational Doors
In light of the nation’s recent economic freefall, many Americans who lost their jobs are going back to school. It’s smart thinking. Not only can they make themselves more marketable in their industries, but they might unlock hidden interests and passions leading to new career paths.

Education can be expensive, though. You have to pay for tuition, books, laptops, and possibly child care if you have youngsters. However, military spouses and dependents have several options that could alleviate their education costs.

Post-9/11 GI Bill
Chief among these is the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 – also known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill.” Available to most service members who served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, this benefits package can cover all in-state tuition and fees at public universities, provides a living allowance and includes a $1,000 per year stipend for books. The best part? Benefits can be transferred to eligible military spouses and children.

MyCAA
Another cost-saving program is the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) program, which pays up to $4,000 of financial assistance to eligible military spouses. MyCAA pays tuition for education and training courses, as well as professional licenses, certifications, and credentials.

MyCAA also pays for state certifications for teachers, medical professionals and other occupations requiring recognized certifications, licensing exams and related prep courses; continuing education classes for professional development; degree programs leading to employment in select career fields; and high school completion courses, GED tests and English as a second language classes. On Feb. 16, 2010, the Department of Defense temporarily halted MyCAA program operations to review the software applications, financial assistance documents, and overall program. MyCAA will resume beginning Oct. 25 for spouses of service members in the pay grades of E1-E5, W1-W2 and O1-O2.

VA Offers Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a Dependents’ Educational Assistance program providing education and training opportunities to eligible dependents. The initiative offers up to 45 months of benefits that can be used for degree and certificate programs.

In-State Tuition
Many states have extended in-state tuition rates to spouses of active duty service members, but policies will vary and the state may have a waiting period to establish residency. If waiting six months to acquire residency could save thousands of dollars, you may want to check the school’s policy before enrolling.

Scholarships
There are also many nonprofit organizations that have established scholarship programs for spouses or children of service members. These include the National Military Family Association, Military Officers Association of America, the American Legion, Military Homefront, Thanks USA, and service affiliated relief and aid societies. Local spouse clubs are also a good place to check for scholarships.

Each service branch also offers financial assistance to spouses and children.

Spouse-friendly Colleges and Universities
Your family member’s school is another resource for additional grants and scholarship programs. Oftentimes, an institution will have an alumni scholarship fund or academic awards available for its students. And if you’re still facing loans, help your family member research careers that offer loan forgiveness programs, such as teaching, nursing, or special areas of law.

Research your family’s education at www.milspouse.com.

Use Your ESO
Installation education centers are a one-stop-shop of education resources. With some exceptions, such as testing costs, the services at the education centers are free for military family members too.

Virginia’s Old Dominion University (ODU) has 955 students using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, though it doesn’t track how many are dependents. ODU does have 245 military spouses using MyCAA benefits. The university also offers in-state tuition rates for all military dependents and a host of scholarships.

Duquesne University in Pittsburgh boasts a School of Leadership and Professional Advancement – which offers a number of educational opportunities for adults seeking to enhance their impact and advancement potential. As of May 2010, about 350 military student and dependents were using benefits from both the Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill.

“We are proud of our reputation of service to military students and their families,” said Don Accamando, military programs director of the School of Leadership and Professional Advancement. “We offer 11 undergraduate and seven graduate degree programs at three military locations, on campus, and online.”

As of May 2010, the College of Business at Colorado State University enrolled 285 students certified for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Five of these students are military spouses and 68 are college-aged children between the ages of 18 and 23. The college also offers MyCAA benefits and scholarships. Military dependents can enjoy in-state tuition if the service member spouse/parent is stationed in Colorado.

“Dependents of military personnel have generally had to sacrifice and have been at a disadvantage for various reasons by the service spouse’s/parent’s commitment to defending our country,” said Glen Vance, the college’s certifying official for veterans education benefits. “It’s good for them to feel advantaged and to receive a real tangible benefit as a result of their loved one’s service.”

MyCAA Eligibility
The Department of Defense  (DoD) in July announced the resumption of the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account Program, known as MyCAA, after a comprehensive review. The program will be available to spouses of service members in the pay grades of E1-E5, W1-W2 and O1-O2 Oct. 25, 2010.

Eligible spouses will receive a total of $4,000 in DoD-funded financial aid, with an annual cap of $2,000 per fiscal year. The program includes some new guidelines:

• Spouses must use their funding within a three-year time period from the start date of the first class
• Funds must be used in support of an associatedegree, licensure or certification. A waiver may be granted when fees for licensure or certification require an up-front fee greater than $2,000 and up to the total maximum assistance of $4,000.
• Regardless of their participation in the funding component of MyCAA, education and career counseling will be available to all military spouses in pursuit of portable careers in high-demand, high-growth occupations.

According to DoD officials, the changes reflect a return to the original intent of the program: to assist spouses of service members in the pay grades of E1-E5, W1-W2, and O1-O2 achieve portable careers.

Spouses can learn more about MyCAA in Military Spouse magazine. www.milspouse.com/forums.

Transferring YOUR Education Benefits
To be eligible to transfer their education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, a service member must have served at least six years and agree to serve an additional four years in order to transfer benefits. Spouses may use the transferred benefits after six years of service, while dependent children may use transferred benefits after 10 years of service. Benefits also may be shared among family members.

For details, visit www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/Article/explain-the-gi-bill